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The Best Air Fryer Green Beans

I’ve dubbed these the best air fryer green beans because you’ll be hard pressed to find a more flavorful way to prepare a healthy side dish with only 3 core ingredients. Not to mention, they’re incredibly easy to make and can be in and out of the air fryer in about 10 minutes.

So be sure to bookmark this recipe for when you’re short on time and need something to elevate your main dish!

air fryer green beans in a bowl with grated parmesan and lemon wedges

The Best Green Beans Seasoning

The recipe calls for Trader Joe’s citrusy garlic seasoning (pictured below) but don’t worry, you can make these air fried green beans without it. Looking at the label, the primary ingredients are garlic, onion powder, lime and lemon oil, lime juice, salt, red and black pepper, cumin, coriander, and a few herbs. I’m betting you could get by with a dash of garlic powder and onion powder, some salt and pepper, and a little fresh lemon and/or lime juice.

trimmed green beans, trader joe's citrusy garlic seasoning, and olive oil

My air fryer Greek potatoes are a good example of mixing lemon juice with olive oil and other seasoning blends before air frying. The key is to preserve any remaining liquid in the mixing bowl for tossing after air frying instead of dumping everything straight in the basket. You can also save the lemon and lime juice or zest for adding to the green beans after air frying.

Don’t overthink the seasoning. My recipe for air fryer green beans has a little twist at the end that will take them up a notch regardless of seasoning.

I also cheated with pre-trimmed green beans from Trader Joe’s, because fresh green beans in an air fryer is the way to go. If you have a bushel of green beans, here’s an easy way to trim them.

How to Air Fry Green Beans

seasoned green beans in the instant pot duo crisp

I used an 8-quart Instant Pot Duo Crisp for air frying. Eight minutes at 400ºF, shaking around the five-minute mark, seemed to do the trick for my test batches. The size of your air fryer basket will affect cook time. You may want to reduce the time by a few minutes for larger baskets or extend a few minutes for smaller air fryers. Shaking an extra time is also a good idea for smaller baskets.

P.S. If you have one, you’ll want to check out my other Instant Pot Duo Crisp recipes where you’ll find other air fried veggies like brussels sprouts and butternut squash.

What to Look for in Cooked Green Beans

You’re looking for your green beans to be a bright, vibrant green with slight blistering or charring in places, especially around the ends. See the photo below for an example. They should be crisp-tender, neither soft and mushy (overcooked) nor too crisp (undercooked).

Serving the Air Fried Green Beans

air fryer green beans back in the mixing bowl with butter, salt, and pepper

The recipe calls for an optional tablespoon of butter, but I’d highly recommend using it. Once you toss the cooked green beans in the butter all the seasoning and oils bind to the green beans and the flavors really shine through.

You’ll also want to salt and pepper to taste here. And if you’re using the Trader Joe’s seasoning, you can add another dash or two of that.

And for a finishing touch, some freshly grated parmesan or Pecorino Romano really elevates the air fryer green beans to another level. I served mine with some fresh lemon juice, but adding some fresh lemon or lime zest would also be a nice touch. Have fun!

Side note: You could also add some grated parmesan for crispy air fried green beans.

final air fried green beans in a bowl with grated parmesan and lemon juice

As for what to pair your green beans with, here’s a handful of Kinda Healthy Recipes that first came to mind:

air fryer steak bites, bbq smoked chicken thighs, and garlic parmesan chicken tenders

The possibilities are endless. I’d love to hear what you end up serving with your air fryer green beans. Let me know in the comments and if you try this recipe and love it, I’d appreciate a recipe review!

air fryer green beans in a bowl with grated parmesan and lemon wedges

The Best Air Fryer Green Beans

Yield: 4 Servings
Prep Time: 2 minutes
Cook Time: 8 minutes
Total Time: 10 minutes

Air fried citrus and garlic seasoned green beans finished with butter and grated parmesan.

Ingredients

  • 1 lb Green Beans, trimmed and washed
  • 1 Tbsp (16g) Olive Oil
  • 1 Tbsp Trader Joe's Citrusy Garlic Seasoning*
  • 1 Tbsp (14g) Unsalted Butter, cut into small pieces (optional)
  • Salt and Pepper, to taste
  • Lemon Wedges and Grated Parmesan, for serving

Instructions

  1. Toss the green beans in olive oil before adding the seasoning blend. Stir/toss until evenly coated in the seasoning.
  2. Air fry at 400ºF for 8-10 minutes, shaking halfway through for even cooking. The green beans should be bright green and crisp tender with a tiny bit of browning around the ends.
  3. Transfer the green beans back to the mixing bowl and add the butter. Toss everything together until the butter melts. Salt and pepper to taste. You can also add another dash of the citrusy garlic seasoning at the end if needed.
  4. Optional: Top with freshly grated parmesan or Pecorino Romano and serve with lemon wedges.

Notes

*You could use a blend of salt, pepper, garlic and onion powder, coriander, and cumin with a splash of lemon and/or lime juice. Finishing with extra lemon and lime zest/juice is also a good idea.

One serving has 2 WW SmartPoints (blue).

Nutrition Information:
Yield: 4 Serving Size: about 3 oz
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 85Total Fat: 6gCarbohydrates: 6gProtein: 1g

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Terri White

Tuesday 20th of June 2023

I just made these and they are phenomenal! We are eating them like French fries! Thank you!

Julie

Wednesday 2nd of February 2022

Two words: Flipping phenomenal. Thank you so much for this recipe!!

Cristin

Monday 29th of November 2021

So my husband is a little on the pickier side so we've always done simple sides. Tried these for me and he LOVED them! The flavor and how quick and easy they are won me over. This recipe also brought us our new favorite seasoning. The citrus garlic is phenomenal, we're going to try the masonfit.com air fryer chicken tenders again, but sub the citrus garlic for the garlic parmesan. Love, love these recipes!

Judith

Thursday 8th of July 2021

I do not have an Air Fryer, so cooked them, and in Holland I could not find the seasoning so tried the blend you suggested. Had it with salmon. My oh my, this is so delicious I wanted to lick the plate!

Mason Woodruff

Friday 9th of July 2021

Thanks, Judith! Happy to hear this one worked for you without an air fryer.

Chad S.

Monday 5th of July 2021

Welp...found my new go-to veggie recipe. These are insane. So quick and easy too! Thank you for this!!

Mason Woodruff

Tuesday 6th of July 2021

Yes sir! Happy to see you cooking up a storm this weekend.

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